How to create a workshop
 

Hey guys!

I'm starting a rookie team and I am currently working on our workshop... But I wonder, what should I prioritize in there? I'd like to know what is useful, useless and some tips to makes sure it's practical and that it looks great!

(Since this is a rookie team, we don't have a that much money... So we can't afford big expensive tools :) )

Re: How to create a workshop
 

One thing we have found valuable with new students (and by definition a rookie team is a group of new students) is to have an exercise we call a 'Week in a Day'.

Many teams have used this approach in the past and have found it valuable. The idea is to pick a previous game (one that has all the game materials available - rules, kickoff video) and have the students approach it like they would on kickoff. Go through the entire game evaluation process including the process of tearing apart the rules, then go through strategy development (what are we going to do when), and come out with some solid ideas. Then take that to the next step to develop some robot ideas and choice points.

We then try to take some time to prototype some of these ideas in a very simple manner (cardboard, tape) to demonstrate the ideas.

We work to do this in one very long day. Stating at like 8am (at the latest) and going until 9-10 at night. It is hard to keep a students attention this long (heck it is hard to keep anyone's attention that long). So break it apart with games (human game simulation) and activities to keep the blood flowing.

Pull together some mentors and other experienced students from other teams around your area if possible, or even by email for the majority of the setup.

We have found that by doing this the new students become more engaged at kickoff and can contribute faster.

Enjoy!

Re: How to create a workshop
 

That's a great idea! I used to to something similar to this with my previous team...

My question was more about creating the workshop (by that I mean the space we work in) sorry if it's not the good word, english is not m main language :)

Re: How to create a workshop
 

This may not be complete, but it's a start of the tools we use most. I'll look around our shop tonight and add some more items, almost certainly -- added in blue, mostly from my notes made in our shop, a couple just copied up from below:

Absolutely essential tools:

• Hacksaw, blades
• Hand drill, bits
• files (metal)
• wrench set (SAE and metric unless you never, ever, buy one or the other)
• adjustable wrench
• screwdriver set (both regular and jeweler's)
• allen wrench set (both SAE and metric again)
• pliers - needle nose & slip joint
• cutting and crimping pliers
• L-square
• tape measure
• gloves (e.g. leather)
• safety glasses
• table/bench
• clamps/vices
  
• Battery chargers (both robot and tool batteries)
• Stapler (for bumper construction)
• level
• Computer (to program robot, and look up parts, and more)
• Wire brush
• Broom, dustpan, wastebasket
• Utility knife
• Vice Grips, several sizes
• Hammer and/or mallet

Next-level tools:

• ratchet sets, 1/4" , 3/8", 1/2" (sockets through at least 1/4" through 1")
• drill press
• soldering station
• chop (or alternately table) saw
• band saw and/or "portaband" saw
• grinder (bench and/or hand-held)
• blind rivet gun
• More pliers - tongue and groove, more sizes/shapes, pipe wrench
• chain breaker/setter
  
• gloves (nitrile, or latex if no one is allergic)
• speed square, t-square
• Dremel tool kit
• Center punch (preferably spring-loaded type)
• Bolt cutters
• Ratchet screwdriver
• T-handle tools (screwdriver, allen, nut driver)
• Reciprocating Saw
• More clamps, vices, and vice grips (can never have too many)
• hammer drill
• Helping hands/magnifying glasses/lights
• Outdoor lights for late construction jobs in January and February
• Shop Vacuum
• Calipers
• More tape measures (again, difficult to get too many)
• Portable radios, if you are working in two or more spaces that aren't really close to each other.
  

Re: How to create a workshop
 

Don't forget hammers / mallets. Hammers can fix anything!
Not really. But almost...

Re: How to create a workshop
 

:)

Re: How to create a workshop
 

Although it may be expensive, my team uses our dremel quite often. We use these:

http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-EZ406-0...l+cutting+bits

and they work very well.

Re: How to create a workshop
 

The workshop is located in my basement... So while cleaning it up I found many of those dremel wheels :) I hope I find the dremel itself :)

Re: How to create a workshop
 

That tells me you aren't looking for advice on finding space, but for advice on what to fill your space with. How much space are you talking about filling? How many people are you expecting to have working there at any given time?

Re: How to create a workshop
 

We have a room of about 16' x 16' with two tables, a few chairs (2 or 3) and a counter with a lot of storage space under it... I expect 2-3 persons to be working in there (very small team). We have another place to use the bigger tools (table saw ect...) but it can't be used to assemble nor program the robot...

Re: How to create a workshop
 

You should have a band saw and a drill press as far as power tools go. Apart from that, GeeTwo's list is pretty solid. I would add calipers to that list; a good 6" caliper is like $20 on Ebay (not plastic, and a brand like Mitutoyo). I got my 12" Mitutoyo's for $23. One thing that is extremely useful to differentiate metric and imperial allen wrenches is to paint them different colors. Some are sold with different color on the outside (like blue) to show metric/imperial.
Avoid screwdrivers and phillips/flathead screws. Keep a couple flathead and phillips screwdrivers available, but don't buy either type of screw unless it's unavoidable. Electrical stuff uses a lot of philips though, so you should stock tiny (jewelers?) screwdrivers and the regular ones as well.
Dremels are fantastic. Socket ratchets are also fantastic. The latter can be cheap and is usually very, very useful, especially for had-to-reach locknuts (which sometimes can't be gotten to any other way).
The next power tool I would get is a mini mill like you get from HarborFreight. The "Seig" manufactured mills are pretty handy. It can even replace a drill press if you're ok with only one person on it at a time.

Re: How to create a workshop
 

One thing we've found useful: Make your build space your pit space. We keep our pit table set up in the shop, and when we go to competitions we just rearrange some plastic shelving to suit. Very easy.

Also think about where you're going to hold non-build meetings. If you don't have that space elsewhere, you're going to want to leave an open space for that (and perhaps some seating). 4901 has reasonable access to classroom space since we're on a college campus, but we still hold an occasional stand-up meeting in the shop for expediency.

Re: How to create a workshop
 

This hasn't been an option for us in the past, as our build space had to become a classroom again after each build session. We also tend to do most of our cutting outside to keep the noise down; Slidell has reasonable temps and precipitation for half to 3/4 of build season, depending on the year.
Now that we have a dedicated build shed, this is something we will definitely consider, though given that we're building heavy workbenches for the shed (2 down, 3 to go), and that we build two "identical" robots since last year, a 10x10 area within the shed won't be our primary work space. We had a 10x10 area marked off on the plans for a "test space" in the shed - with a 7-1/2' ceiling and an irregular floor sloped about 2 degrees to the back, we aren't going to be using the shed for real driver practice. I suspect that about the time we need to go to the classroom or the parking lot for driver practice, the "test space" will become our "pit layout". We can even drill rolling the storage shelves and benches in and out, as long as we keep things below that low ceiling. We can do the full-height drills in the classroom. After stop build day, we can build the pit in the shed and note whatever we use that is not stored in that space to adjust the pit loadout. I like it!

Re: How to create a workshop
 

These are good lists. I would add:

A Vise
Spring loaded center punch (makes drill presses MUCH more useful)

Good luck!!

Re: How to create a workshop
 

Do not forget about any of the following:

-Storage space. The amount of random parts that a FIRST team accumulates over time is truly impressive. Making sure that everything has a place to live takes a lot of planning ahead. Invest in a whole lot of drawers, large and small, to keep everything organized, and a quality toolbox or well-designed pegboard for all your tools.

-Table space. You can never have enough open table space, as many elements of the robot will be being assembled in parallel, especially during the prototyping stage.

-Open space. This can't be forgotten about either. Whether for storage of large items like full size prototypes, for testing, or just for freedom to move around, it's important not to fill your shop to the point where there's no free room.